With Eric Cohen and the help of over 150 volunteers, San Francisco Civic Center, in San Francisco, Calif., became the largest edible garden in since 1943, on Saturday July 12, 2008. The display will provide visitors the opportunity to learn about urban food production. Cohen waters a row of tomato plants against the backdrop of City Hall.Photo By Michael Macor/ The Chronicle less

With Eric Cohen and the help of over 150 volunteers, San Francisco Civic Center, in San Francisco, Calif., became the largest edible garden in since 1943, on Saturday July 12, 2008. The display will provide ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Mayor Gavin Newsom and Slow Food Nation founder Alice Waters, tour the urban garden at the San Francisco Civic Center which became the largest edible garden in since 1943, on Saturday July 12, 2008. The display will provide visitors the opportunity to learn about urban food production.Photo By Michael Macor/ The Chronicle less

Mayor Gavin Newsom and Slow Food Nation founder Alice Waters, tour the urban garden at the San Francisco Civic Center which became the largest edible garden in since 1943, on Saturday July 12, 2008. The display ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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The largest edible garden in the San Francisco Civic Center since 1943, will provide visitors the opportunity to learn about urban food production, volunteer, Kathy Ziccardi, ties up bean plants as over 150 people turned out to work on the garden, Saturday July 12, 2008.Photo By Michael Macor/ The Chronicle less

The largest edible garden in the San Francisco Civic Center since 1943, will provide visitors the opportunity to learn about urban food production, volunteer, Kathy Ziccardi, ties up bean plants as over 150 ... more

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

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Urban garden takes root in S.F.'s Civic Center for Slow Food Nation

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The green thumbs were covered with brown dirt Saturday at San Francisco's Civic Center when 150 people who like to eat their vegetables planted an updated version of a World War II victory garden. The Slow Food Nation Victory Garden, whose organic veggies are a far cry from the stuff being sold at the fast food joints a few feet away on Market Street, aims to show the possibilities and benefits of urban food production. Mayor Gavin Newsom and renowned food guru Alice Waters planted tomatoes, cabbage, beans and other natural treats. Newsom even took off his sport coat to do his digging, although he did not wear gloves and got a lot of dirt under his fingernails. The garden will be the showpiece when Slow Food Nation, a celebration of nonprocessed food, comes to the city over Labor Day weekend. By then, the tomatoes and beans should be grown and ready for their close-ups. The fresh veggies in the garden are representative of the sustainable food movement, which encourages people to buy from small local farms. All produce grown in the garden will be distributed to the needy through local charities.